Unswag it
You’re not a billboard. You’re a person in a nice hoodie.
Nice hoodie.
Shame about the ad.
The unswag kit
Everything you need to get a logo off, or cover it up: a seam ripper, a plastic scraper, alcohol prep pads, a patch, two stickers, and pocket guides, in a zip pouch.
Ships free.
Fabric
Clothes, bags, hats. How the logo got on decides whether it comes off.
| Logo type | How to tell | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Woven label or tag | A small fabric label sewn into a seam or hem. | REMOVE Easy. Snip the stitches, pull the threads. Step-by-step guide: remove a woven label |
| Sewn-on patch | A separate piece of fabric, sewn on. Stitches run around its edge. | REMOVE Seam ripper and ten quiet minutes. Step-by-step guide: remove a sewn-on patch |
| Heat-transfer vinyl | A thin film pressed on top of the fabric. Smooth and a little shiny, with an edge you can lift. | REMOVE Warm it with an iron, then peel slowly. Step-by-step guide: peel off a vinyl logo |
| Embroidery | Stitched through the garment itself. Raised thread you can feel. | REMOVE Possible, with patience. Expect needle holes. Step-by-step guide: remove an embroidered logo |
| Printed | Ink pressed or dyed into the fabric, in one color or many. Flat and soft, with no edge at all. | COVER Getting it off takes solvents that can ruin the shirt. Patch it. Step-by-step guide: cover a printed logo |
Or cover it
Logo redacted bar
Patch: 3.5 × 2.25 in.
Logo redacted square
Patch: 3 × 3 in.
Hard goods
Bottles, mugs, laptops, gadgets.
| Logo type | How to tell | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Sticker or decal | A printed film stuck on top. Your fingernail catches an edge. | REMOVE Warm it, peel it, and clean the glue with alcohol. Step-by-step guide: peel off a sticker or decal |
| Printed on plastic | Ink printed on the plastic itself. Flat, with no edge to catch. | REMOVE, MAYBE Test alcohol on a hidden spot; if it won’t budge, cover it. Step-by-step guide: wipe off a printed logo |
| Electronics | A logo on a speaker, power bank, or earbuds case. | REMOVE Power it off first. Dampen the cloth, never the device. Step-by-step guide: get a logo off electronics |
| Printed on a coated bottle | The logo sits on a painted or powder-coated finish. Flat, with no edge to catch. | COVER Solvents can strip the finish. Step-by-step guide: cover a logo that won’t come off |
| Engraved or etched metal | Cut or etched into the metal. Frosted or darker, and your fingernail dips into it. | COVER It’s permanent. Step-by-step guide: cover a logo that won’t come off |
| Fired onto a ceramic mug | Glossy and dishwasher-proof. | COVER The logo is baked into the glaze. Sticker over it. Step-by-step guide: cover a logo that won’t come off |
Or cover it
Off the clock
Sticker: 3 in circle.
Logo redacted square
Sticker: 3 × 3 in, cut to shape.
Tools
The unswag kit covers most jobs.
Have tools already? Buy the ones you’re missing, one tool at a time.
- Clover seam ripper on AmazonFor patches, labels, and embroidery. Get two. You’ll lose one.
- Fiskars curved embroidery scissors on AmazonGets under stitches without cutting the fabric.
- Tweezerman point tweezers on AmazonFor the last stubborn threads.
- BLACK+DECKER compact iron on AmazonSoftens the glue on vinyl so it peels instead of tearing, and presses on iron-on patches. A hair dryer works for vinyl too.
- Lil Chizler plastic scraper on AmazonLifts vinyl edges without scratching the fabric. The pink one is the original, and just stiff enough.
- Goo Gone adhesive remover on AmazonCleans up glue left behind after vinyl comes off. Test it inside a seam first, and skip it on silk, leather, and suede.
- Acetone on AmazonA last resort for stubborn vinyl on cotton. It’s flammable, strips dye, and dissolves acetate and some synthetics, so test an inside seam with a window open.
The Amazon links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your price stays the same.
removal desk
bring snacks. it takes a minute.